Fine art courses Helsinki
The use of pens and sketch paper is included in the price of all visual arts courses at the institute. In painting courses, it is possible to sketch with watercolors and opaque paints, acrylic paints can be borrowed if necessary, and various painting fluids are available for your use. In some courses, such as Start Painting and drawing courses, all the necessary tools and materials are available at the institute.
Most courses are open to complete beginners, and you can also register for many after the course has already started. Some subjects, such as Watercolor Painting, have separate courses from beginners to advanced courses. Workshop-type evening or day courses, such as Päivämaalarit or Maalauskoulu United, are suitable for long-term practice regardless of the technique you choose. There are also courses for those who like task-based work. Each student progresses and develops at their own pace, in their own direction, and in their own way.
Watercolor Painting – Learn Watercolor Painting Techniques
All you need to paint with watercolor is water, paint, a brush, and paper. But the options are endless, and the end result is always unique. With watercolor painting courses, you can progress from the basics to more advanced techniques.
» Sign up for watercolor painting courses
Acrylic Painting – Colorful Painting Technique
The binder of acrylic paint is acrylate glue and you can paint with the colors like oil paint. However, the drying time is faster and you can use just water as a painting fluid. The basics of acrylic painting are a transition to both acrylic painting and painting in general. You can further develop your work in the late spring continuation course. The acrylic painting day group progresses based on the needs and skills of each student.
During the free acrylic painting weekend, you can embark on a journey of expressive expression, not forgetting the flexibility of acrylic in various mixed techniques and the possibilities that different painting fluids bring, even to oil-like layering. In the short acrylic painting courses, you can focus on technique or, for example, paint a picture of your pet.
» Sign up for acrylic painting courses
Calligraphy – The art of beautiful writing
Calligraphy is the art of writing, where you learn to write by hand and create beautiful letters. The basics cover the most typical font types and the secrets of the rhythm of words and sentences. In the weekend course, you can learn to make various greeting cards and other cards.
Visual Arts Courses – Free Expression and Technique
Child-adult splash painting courses are a nice way to get to know the spirit of free painting and spend a few hours working together.
In the spring intensive and short courses you can get acquainted with composition and color theory. In the composition course you will learn the basic building blocks of a picture and how to read a picture analytically. The color theory course is essential for anyone who wants to develop their painting – regardless of technique. The materials used in the courses are mainly included in the price of the courses.
Painting – Low-threshold painting courses
Our Start Painting courses are all-inclusive, low-threshold painting courses. These courses are not meant to be rushed or rushed. Most of our other painting courses are suitable as a follow-up course. Read more about painting courses.
Relaxed painting is a semester-long journey into the possibilities of painting, including task-based ones. Begin to Paint offers a supportive group atmosphere both to total newcomers as well those, whose interest in painting has longer history.
In the Draw and Paint Correctly from Observation course, you will progress from precise drawing, through grayscale or grisaille work, to a finished, realistic painting, following the tradition of traditional academic art. A course in which you will learn the technique of systematically building an image.
The aim of the creative painting courses is self-knowledge and well-being. Painting School United A and B are already our traditional workshop courses, where work is voluntary, on your own topics and with your own chosen media. The course also covers changing themes and the groups hold a joint exhibition in the school's Aulagallery every spring. Day Painters is a traditional workshop course on Tuesday mornings.
The possibilities of oil painting are six intensive sessions to familiarize yourself with the basics of oil painting and also offer the opportunity to develop what you have already learned. The weekend painting courses focus on a specific style, technique or practice developing expression around a specific subject or theme. The spring 2026 program includes painting, among other things, night cities and a dressed model, and practicing the use of a sketchbook and pastels.
» Sign up for painting courses
Feedback lesson – Develop your own skills
A feedback lesson is suitable for those of you who work independently, perhaps at home or in your own workspace. You can book a lesson alone or come in a group of up to four people. Lessons can be arranged as needed. Education Manager, KuM Juha Okko is an experienced artist and teacher, whose feedback lessons emphasize discussion and the joint development of things.
» Sign up for a feedback class
Drawing – From Basics to Advanced Expression
Drawing courses allow you to learn the basics in different ways. Drawing Basics 1 and 2 are a two-part basic drawing course, the first of which covers basic drawing: observation, freehand line and shading, proportions and finding form. The second part focuses on expression and expression with different media. The Thursday drawing day group discusses expression and the various options and media for drawing. The pencil drawing weekend course focuses on producing a single, systematically shaded and believable drawing. Draw Correctly from Observation offers a method for accurate observational drawing. Read more about drawing courses.
Cyanotype – photographs without a camera
Cyanotype is an old method in which various objects and materials can be placed on photosensitive paper under the light of a lamp or the sun. In a set of three short courses, you can try the technique from slightly different perspectives and create original works simply by arranging (i.e. composing) different elements.
» Register for cyanotype courses
Fine art prints – Metal graphics and carborundum
In the graphic arts workshop, you will work with different methods of metal graphics at your own pace. The group is suitable for beginners as well as those who have been doing it for a long time. In the intensive weekend courses in letterpress and carborundum, you will gain experience with the traditional, woodcut-like medium or the painterly method, suitable for creating unique works.
» Sign up for graphic arts courses
Art Therapy – Well-being through creativity
Our courses that utilize art therapy methods are great tools for developing self-awareness and getting to know the methods. There are many different techniques in art therapy, but the unifying factor is small visual works, short written reflections and group discussions. New to the spring 2026 program are Sound Bowl Relaxation and Painting and a group for recent retirees.
» Sign up for art therapy courses
Subscription courses – Visual arts for groups and companies
A custom-made visual arts course can be, for example, an hour-long, low-threshold painting or drawing workshop, where you relax with different tools (watercolor and acrylic paints, chalks, markers, colored pencils, etc.), working on easy tasks without any requirement for skill or success.
Read more about subscription courses
Three reasons to pursue visual arts
1.
What is done well will last and last for a long time.
2.
The world becomes abundant – you see colors and shapes even on the asphalt.
3.
Art opens up – you see visual culture through the eyes of the creator, not the consumer
It's easy for us to come
College facilities Located with good transport connections, the courses are easy to get to. The courses are held at the university building on Runeberginkatu or in the center of Helsinki on Annankatu.
About study advice You will receive help with course selection and study-related questions. Feel free to contact us and together we will find the right course for you!
Is there anything left to ponder?
Student Counseling always offers you help in finding the right level and course, for example if you have time from a previous course or if you want to learn a completely new sport.
Study advice
Course info
The lesson length is 45 minutes.
Some of the materials used in art courses are included in the course fee. The course information will indicate if the student must bring their own tools and supplies.
The language of instruction for the courses is usually Finnish. In many courses, teachers can also teach in English or another language. You can ask the student guidance office what language will be used in the course.
You can request a certificate from the office once the course has been completed.
“I really enjoyed the course, it was great & the teacher was knowledgeable, nice, and really put in the effort to make the course a success.”
Student
Visual arts student
